COMPOSITE LPG CYLINDERS
By
Trond Inge Flønes
Regional Export Manager Asia Pacific
www.hexagon.no
DEVOLD AMT
Fiber
reinforcements
for Windmill
Blades, Ships and
Aircrafts
LINCOLN
COMPOSITES
CNG containers
for Automotive
Fuel Systems
HEXAGON
COMPOSITES
Fully owned subsidiary of Hexagon Composites 100 Employees
Situated in Raufoss, Norway ISO 9001 certified
1st cylinder introduced in 2000 Established in 1997
Aircrafts
RAGASCO
Composite
containers for
LPG distribution
RAFS A.S.
CNG containers
for Automotive
Fuel Systems
Fuel Systems
Annual Production
1000000
1200000
1400000
1600000
0
200000
400000
600000
800000Yearly Production
Yearly Production 139704 142022 176416 180087 195580 380000 352000 721000 1000000 1250000 1570000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
2008 ESTIMATE
1 MILLION UNITS
Our HistoryCNG SYSTEMS
BUSSES & OTHER VEHICLESDEFENSE PROJECTS
Missile fuselages
LPG CYLINDERS
LPG DISTRIBUTION
1990’s1980’s 2000
Specifications of range
CAPACITY
PROPANE
BUTANE
5KG
6KG
7.5KG
8.5KG
10KG
12KG
14KG
16.5KG
TARE WEIGHT
WITHOUT VALVE
3.6KG 4.2KG 5.1KG 7.9KG
WATER CONTENT 12.5L 18,2L 24.5L 33.5L
HEIGHT 400mm 461mm 587mm 720mm
DIAMETER 305mm 305mm 307mm 307mm
AVAILABILITY In Market In Market In Market In Market
3 layer technical description
12 3
The seamless polymer liner
for gas containment acts as a
gas barrier
The fiber structure holds
the pressure and prevents
the burst of the pressure
vessel under extreme
conditions
The fully integrated outer casing
protects the valve, the pressure vessel
and from the environment around it.
This gives COMPLET® its unique and
dynamic appearance
Manufacturing process
HDPE Liner
Blow Molded
Fiber glass layer
Filament winding
&
Oven Curing
Test Process
Pneumatic pressure
test (30 / 33bar)
&
Tightness Test
(18bar with helium)
HDPE Casing
Injection molding
3 pieces
&
Mechanical Joint
Liner with brass insert
Composite Layer
Casing
Valve/Cylinder InterfaceInjection molded HDPE boss with brass insert
HDPE BOSS BRASS INSERT
BRASS INSERT
COVERED BY
COMPOSITE LAYERBOSS WELDED WITH LINER
Valve/Cylinder Interface
Standard Interface
Dependent on country
M26 or M34 thread and O-
ring for tightnessring for tightness
LPG Flow diffuser to
eliminate any risk of charge
from static electricity
Applications
HouseholdHousehold
Applications
Motor
Fuel
Distributor advantages
Distributor advantagesATTRACTIVE SALES POINTS
Consumer Advantages
Fire Resistance
• WITHOUT PRESSURE RELEASE DEVICE
• After 1-2 minutes - The casing and liner will start melting.
• After 3-5 minutes the LPG will start burning off in a controlled manner through fissures in the
• WITH PRESSURE RELEASE DEVICE
• After 1-2 minutes – The casing and lining will start melting and the PRD will open when the pressure is high enough (dependant on the intensity of the fire) The PRD will open and manner through fissures in the
cylinder wall
the fire) The PRD will open and close to aliviate pressure and burn off the LPG when open.
• After 3 – 5 minutes the LPG will start burning off in a controlled manner through fissures I the cylinder wall.
STEEL CYLINDERS WILL EXPLODE IN THE FIRST CASE
&
MAY EXPLODE IN THE SECOND CASE
FIRE RESISTANCE TEST
Comparative Fire test of RAGASCO Composite compared and Steel CylinderComparative Fire test of RAGASCO Composite compared and Steel Cylinder
RESULT
Ragasco Composite: Controlled LPG Burn Off, NO EXPLOSION
Steel: EXPLOSION
Market Experience
• HISTORY
– 2000–’01: Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, Finland
– 2003: Global Supply
Contract with BP Gas
International
– 2004: UK, Switzerland,
Portugal, Iceland, Benelux
• EXPERIENCE
– The composite cylinders
enters into a premium
market
– After a period of 1-2 years,
the composite cylinders will
occupy a stable part of the
market.Portugal, Iceland, Benelux
– 2005: Poland, Nigeria,
Austria, Tahiti
– 2006: USA, France
– 2007: Canada
– 2008: Mexico, Italy,
Venezuela, Vietnam,
Albania
market.
– After 5 – 10 years, the
composite segment can be
as much as 50% of all new
fillings.
Market Experience
European Union – Pi mark
ADR/RID (EN12245) USA
DOT Exemption 12706
Approval Record
Other approvals in: Canada, Nigeria, Malaysia, South Africa, India, Vietnam, Mexico,
Venezuela etc
Business DevelopmentINITIAL SUPPLY OF CYLINDERS FROM RAUFOSS, NORWAY
PILOT PROJECT AND EVALUATION
IF OK
FOR MARKET DEMAND OF LESS
THAN 700 00 UNITS PER ANNUM:
CYLINDERS SUPPLIED FROM
RAGASCO, NORWAY
FOR MARKET DEMAND OF MORE
THAN 700 000 PER ANNUM
LOCAL MANUFACTURING. LOCAL
PARTNER & RAGASCO/HEXAGON
(MIN 51%)
IF OK
SUPPLY OF CYLINDERS FROM RAGASCO, NORWAY